Tag Archives: Sam Fender

J Balvin to Perform at Australia’s Splendour In The Grass Festival

Posted on by
Reply

Life is a splendour for J Balvin…

The 37-year-old Colombian urban superstar is heading to Splendour In The Grass, Australia’s leading mid-year music festival.

J BalvinJ Balvin joins a lineup that includes Lewis Capaldi, Lizzo, Mumford & Sons, Flume, Slowthai, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Sam Fender, Idles and scores more.

Splendour returns to its home at Ngarindjin/North Byron Parklands from July 21-23, with tickets to the camping fest going on sale from this Friday (April 14).

For organizers Secret Sounds, part of Live Nation, this year’s event should feel like a return to normal, following a two-year pandemic which saw Splendour scratched from the calendar, and a comeback event in 2022 which was challenged by Mother Nature.

When its 2021 edition was wiped out, organizers shifted gears and used that timeslot to launch Splendour XR, a two-day virtual music festivals featuring more than 50 artist performances. Splendour XR was built alongside Linden Lab, the American digital entertainment developer that’s best known for building Second Life. But it wasn’t the real thing.

The real thing was established in 2001 in Byron Bay, a stunning beach spot on the most eastern point of Australia, a home to surfers, artists and Australia’s counterculture.

Today, Splendour is the only midwinter camping festival of its kind in Australia, and a place where internationals and homegrown performers have been known to test new cuts live for the very first time.

Three-day event tickets for Splendour are priced at A$447.51 (inclusive of booking fees); add A$197.27 for camping. Single day event tickets cost A$202.37.

Visit splendourinthegrass.com for more.

DannyLux Named to New Class of Fender Next

Posted on by
Reply

DannyLux’s got (Fender) next…

The 19-year-old Latino musician has been announced as a member of the new class of Fender Next, an artist development program designed to elevate rising musicians that are pushing guitar forward in music.

DannyLux,Born Daniel Balderrama, DannyLux was born and raised in Palm Springs, California. His love of music began at 6 years of age when his father brought home a guitar that had seen better days.

Daniel’s goal: to write powerful music that will calm you and make you feel better. To inspire people and help them in their time of need, is worth more to him than any amount of money.

But DannyLux isn’t the only Latin act making the grade.

Yahritza Y Su Esencia have been announced as part of the new class of Fender Next.

“When I play my guitar, I am able to dream out loud,” Yahritza says about being part of this program. “I drift into a space that is just me, my guitar and my thoughts and it is a big part of how I roll these ideas out, when writing music.”

Mexico’s Bratty is also part of the new class. He’s a bedroom pop / garage / surf rock project of guitarist and singer-songwriter

This year marks its fifth installment, with previous artist alumni being Sam Fender, Phoebe Bridgers, Wet Leg and others.

The 25 artists have been chosen from across North America, Australia, Europe, Asia and Latin America.

This year’s honorees include:

Dayglow (US)
Cafune (US)
Jean Dawson (US)
Bartees Strange  (US)
Adi Oasis (US)
Momma  (US)
Wallice  (US)
Yahritza y Su Esencia  (US)
DannyLux  (US)
Devon Gilfillian  (US)
49 Winchester  (US)
Cecilia Castleman  (US)
Luna Li (CA)
Bratty (MX)
Samm Henshaw (UK)
The Mysterines (UK)
Ruti (UK)
Deyaz (UK)
Tommy Lefroy (UK)
Grentperez (AU)
Ruel (AU)
BREIMEN (JP)
Chili Beans. (JP)
Sunset Rollercoaster (TW)
Wen Zhaojie (CN)

 

Artists involved in Fender Next receive a welcome pack which includes a guitar from the Player Series, loaded with a commemorative gold pick guard, a Custom Fender Road Case and guitar strap, a Mustang Micro, a pedal from Fender’s Hammertone TM series (which will be selected to match to each artists unique sound), as well as PreSonus HD9: Professional Monitoring Headphones.

Those involved will be boosted through Fender’s marketing and social content on TikTok and Instagram, as well as being included on official Fender playlists on music streaming services.

To check out more from this year’s artists, check out the Fender Next playlist on Spotify.

Karamo Brown & His Queer Eye Co-Stars to Co-Host Elton John’s Oscar Viewing Party

Posted on by
Reply

Karamo Brownwill have a busy Oscar night… 

The 39-year-old part-Cuban American television personality and his Queer Eye co-stars will serve as co-hosts at Sir Elton John’s AIDS Foundation Academy Awards viewing party on February 9.

Karamo Brown

The legendary performer, who inspired Taron Egerton‘s Golden Globe-nominated performance in Rocketman, has drafted Brown, Jonathan Van Ness, Tan Franceand Bobby Berkto join honorary chairs John and husband David Furnishat the helm, though its unclear where the fifth Queer Eye star, Antoni Porowski, will be. 

Also taking the stage will be the British actor, singer-songwriter and Brits Critic Choice Award winner Sam Fender, who has been tapped to perform.

The Oscars viewing party event will once again take place in West Hollywood Park, serving as a benefit for the Elton John AIDS Foundation.

“Each year we are blessed to have incredible artists do what they do best at our party and this year will be another special night not to miss. Given we have some of the wonderful hosts of Queer Eye at our party, we all wanted to use the event to raise funds for our work with LGBT ommunities around the world, many of whom are 20 times more vulnerable to the disease than their straight peers. AIDS isn’t over until no one gets left behind,” John said Thursday in a statement.